Birnamwood Drive features two new signs to raise awareness about eco-friendly road projects in Precinct 4.

Birnamwood Drive features two new signs to raise awareness about eco-friendly road projects in Precinct 4.

Photo: Submitted Photo

Image 3 of 3

Birnamwood Drive features new signs

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

Precinct 4’s award-winning thoroughfare that inspired Harris County to adopt low-impact-design (LID) principals received two new signs in December, marking it as an environmentally friendly roadway.

The signs were installed at each end of Birnamwood Drive to help raise awareness about economical and environmentally friendly designs benefiting Precinct 4 residents.

Located between Cypresswood Drive and Spring Creek Drive near Pundt Park in northern Harris County, Birnamwood Drive opened in 2012 as Harris County’s first LID road project.

The four-lane roadway includes a 32-foot wide center median with an underground system of engineered soil and rain tanks that work with native plants to filter and release storm water into regional storm water systems. The design provides natural water filtration and saves taxpayers money by eliminating the need for off-site detention and reducing maintenance costs.

“New developments and roadways increase storm water runoff by slowing water absorption into the soil. These projects help minimize Precinct 4’s ecological footprint while still providing essential roads for our growing population,” said Commissioner R. Jack Cagle. “By building wider medians with natural plants and engineered soil that can absorb water 100 times faster than natural soil, we can help offset these disruptions.”

The project has inspired other LID projects across the precinct including adding bioretention features to Riley Fuzzel and Louetta roads. Holzworth North, a new four-lane roadway in Spring, will be modeled after Birnamwood with plans that include a natural filtration system, native grass seed, wildflowers and plants.